Four families told Oak View Elementary School officials that their children had been diagnosed with viral meningitis, but one parent recently called to say the child did not have the virus after all, Schools Director Mike Looney said in a press conference.

Looney said he didn’t know the number of kids involved, but it was between four and seven. He also didn’t know the students’ condition.

Last week, a letter from Oak View Elementary Acting Principal Kate Donnelly told parents several students were reported to have viral meningitis and some required hospitalization.

Looney said the press conference was in response to media reports this week. He said administrators stopped short of advising other schools because they didn’t think it appropriate to sound an alarm across the district without facts.

“We handled this matter in the same way we handle all other student health issues,” he said. “Whether it’s viral meningitis or the flu, we’ve redoubled our efforts.”

Extra cleaning crews were brought in over the weekend to thoroughly disinfect common areas, in addition to regular cleaning. Buses that transport Oak View Elementary students also were cleaned, Looney said.

Oak View Elementary parent Katie Wilson said she is glad the information is out, but she still wasn’t satisfied with the response.

“When you hear meningitis, it is more alarming than a cold or the flu,” Wilson said. “I think they should have taken it more seriously.”